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Mill meeting draws hundreds
Published Thursday, October 29, 2009
Concerned International Paper Co. employees and their families, business owners and other community members packed the Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College Wednesday night.
Officials from Franklin, Southampton County and Isle of Wight County, with representatives from Suffolk and Gates County, N.C., held a regional meeting with numerous state agencies and elected officials from the state and federal level to try to develop a plan of action to help impacted IP employees, their families and communities.
About 600 chairs were set up for the event, but overflow seating was needed to accommodate the crowd.
“This is truly a community effort; it knows no jurisdictional bounds,” said U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., who attended the meeting. State Sen. Frederick Quayle, R-Suffolk, and Delegates William Barlow, D-Smithfield, and Roslyn Tyler, D-Jarratt, also attended the meeting, as did representatives for U.S. Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Jim Webb, D-Va., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Gov. Tim Kaine.
Speakers from the Virginia Employment Commission and other state agencies spoke about the services that are already or will soon be available to displaced mill workers, and economic development officials spoke about plans to market the region to other businesses.
Isle of Wight County Supervisor Phillip Bradshaw said the closure of IP should bring about more cooperation among the governments of the affected localities.
“We are in a crisis, and we have to think differently,” he said.
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Comments
Posted by OD (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 5:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical of the politicans. Grats to Randy Forbes for being outfront and caring. As for the rest of them,too little too late no leadership skills among them. If there wasnt a election, the 3 bozos wouldnt be there at all. "Hey we are here to help". Im surprised that Deeds wasnt tagging along to suck up to the workers looking for votes.
Posted by Suffolk64 (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When it's all said and done everyone is on their own! These people can't make someone hire you! They can't make someone help you! You have to help yourself no matter what the cost. Everyone will say a million times that they are so sorry for what has happened and they will do all they can to help. Then you never see them again. In reality you just have to pull your pants up and help yourself! Don't expect help from anyone other than your family!
Posted by batman (anonymous) on October 31, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After the election Franklin will feel like a abandoned child, they all ready feel bad enough without having these political liars coming to town. I think Santa Claus could offer the people of Franklin as much:-o
Posted by joanip01 (anonymous) on October 31, 2009 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Praying for the Paper MIll workers and their families and the community. This is a tragedy for all.
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